Buchanan residents told AFP by telephone that heavy fighting had broken out at around 9:00 am Monday (0900 GMT) and that government troops fled the garrison there towards Monrovia.

A humanitarian source said government militiamen had looted cars and other property belonging to international aid agencies before fleeing, leaving the city in rebel control.

However, Liberian Defence Minister Daniel Chea said government forces were still in control of at least part of the city, located some 100 kilometresmiles) southeast down the Atlantic coast from the capital.

"I am near Buchanan at this moment.... Buchanan is still being contested," Chea told AFP by telephone. "We are controlling the west part of the town, the crossroad leading to Monrovia... (and) they are controlling the center of the town."

The MODEL, a rebel formation created in March, had marched on the port city on Sunday and military commanders said the rebels had launched their offensive by early Monday morning.

"I have asked for reinforcements and they're coming. We're trying to reorganise and regroup. We must retake the port and expel the rebels from Buchanan", Chea said.

The minister said that ongoing combat made it difficult to assess the death toll in Buchanan.

Based in the southeast of the country, the MODEL is smaller than Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), the main rebel force currently besieging the capital Monrovia in the most brutal attack in nearly five years of war to unseat President Charles Taylor.

Other sources, including local businessmen, said the rebels were pushing on from Buchanan both towards Kakata, northeast of Monrovia, and towards the capital's international airport, situated about halfway between the two cities.

US ambassador to Liberia John Blaney had called on MODEL commanders Sunday not to approach Buchanan.

WAR.WIRE